Oops...first emergency phone call to the doctor!
Mood:  accident prone
It was a peaceful Friday evening and we were getting set to leave when we accidently snipped Ben's thumb while trimming his nails. Of course we naturally thought we were going to have to get his thumb or worse, his whole hand amputated...but after a quick call to the doctor, we found out that babies are just like the rest of us humans...apply some pressure, put some ice on it, give him some Tylenol for the pain and it will heal up before you know it! We're also relieved, because we have no idea how we're going to teach Ben how to count without the use of his fingers...now he'll be able to learn to count to 10 and not 9.

Schwetty Little Ben
Mood:  smelly
As summer has hit the Boston area, we are faced with the fact that Ben has sweaty, smelly little feet. Again, traits he must have gotten from his father! We've been looking for baby odor eaters, but have not found them yet.

Father's Day Celebrations!
Mood:  hug me
We started out celebrating father's day by having James cook Becky breakfast! James was excited about this! We met Pappy Gary for lunch and ate dinner with Papa Joe...both celebrating their first Father's Day as Grandfathers!

James was happy that Ben got him a drop light from Sears for the big day! What a day!

First Trip to the Mall
Mood:  rushed
It was about 93 degrees and humid as ever, so what did Benjamin and I decide to do? Why go to the mall of course! So we got into our car and drove to the suburbs...what was suppose to be a quick little hour outing turned into about 3 hours of putzing around the mall, talking to more strangers in one day than I probably ever have in my life, and attempting to eat lunch with just my little son whimpering away because he wanted to be held.

When I say "talk to strangers" I really mean a bunch of old ladies and other women with children (not creepy old men strangers!)...it was nice to have some interaction with adults for a change during the day. Of course the only topics discussed were Ben, babies, habits of babies and other people's babies.

In good news, a Chik-Fil-A opened in our mall of choice...which is grrrreat! We discovered Chik-Fil-A while we were living in good old Georgia and have loved it ever since! Only problem is that it was primarily a southern based chain (as well as Sonic which we miss tremendously too). So good news: Chik-Fil-A is in Massachusetts! Since I didn't eat lunch, I got a meal and sat with Benny. It was nice to have his company while dining!

So I guess all the fears I had of a baby holding me back from doing "normal people things" has passed. I can still do mostly everything I used to be able to do, only it takes about 3 - 5 times the amount of time to accomplish it. But at least I have a little friend with me to keep me company! And now I just have to be on the lookout for elevators and handicapped ramps!

My new camera trick
Mood:  lazy
There is something in Ben's head that tells him "When the funny looking lady with red hair has the camera, stop smiling and stare into it like a deer in headlights." As if you couldn't already tell this by the pictures posted on the webpage. Well today, I realized that if I prop the camera on a piece of furniture (away from his view from me), he won't stop smiling! Yey for me for being so smart! I must go now because the Linkadoos were left out and Kiki, our cat is attacking one of them. I try to tell Ben to pick up his toys after he is done playing with them, but again, he just looks at me like a deer looking into headlights.

First Chinese Cookie Fortune
Mood:  special
Ben had his first Chinese fortune tonight....it is:

Apply yourself to the basics and progress will follow.

We told him if he just keeps pooping his diapers, eventually he'll learn to use the toilet. He felt much better when we told him that.

The Cry Baby went to the doctor's!
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Doctor's Appointment
The day finally came - shot day! Also known as Ben's 2 month doctor's appointment! The little porker is up to 10 lbs 7 oz and is 23 inches long. The little guy enjoyed the car ride there...enjoyed the leisurely stroll from the parking garage to the office...and about 20 seconds from entering the doctor's office he screams and screams, and just for fun, screams some more.

Everyone gave me their two cents about him being hungry and some lady told me to go get him a milk shake. I think she was trying to be funny, but I didn't see the humor in it while Little Benny Boy was screaming in my ears. Actually, I don't see any humor in it when Ben is not crying either...stupid lady! I told them all he was practicing for when he gets his shots! He stopped crying when I put a clean diaper on him after they weighed him (I'm not stupid - I fed him lots before we left!)

He was being a little sweetheart while Rosina (his doctor) was checking him out...that is if you can call passing gas every 10 seconds sweet. I find it very endearing that he is not ashamed of his gas. Sometimes he actually looks a little proud of his doings...he obviously takes after his father in that department!

First Real Religious Experience!
Ben and I showed Renee around some of the sights of Boston (when he wasn't acting up that is!). We ventured into the North End which is all Italian places. We found the Peace Gardens and it was a very spiritual experience for Ben. He looked at all the holy statues. We tried to catch some pictures of him with various Saints, but I was stupid...I didn't forget the camera but I forgot to put the battery back in the camera when we left. Oh well. It's very noteworthy, however because if Ben ever becomes a Saint, it's because of me and Renee!

He also saw Faneuil Hall, City Hall, The Paul Revere Mall and other sights around. Some lady in the Pizza Place we stopped at spoke Italian to him (I think she called him Little Bennito but I'm not sure)...

Our Southern Belle Friend Came to Visit!
The classiest girl from South Carolina was in Boston this week! Renee came up on a business excursion and got to meet Ben in the process!! We took her to the Stockyard Restaurant...a pretty nice restaurant on a Friday night! We were there for over 2 hours and Ben was on his best behavior...very surprising! He was also changed for the first time in a public place! This is noteworthy stuff, huh? Renee had to help me because there wasn't a changing station...so we wiped down the sink area and got to work! Stupid me forgot a blanket, so we used a couple of the restaurants fancy napkins! Ben seemed a bit apprehensive about the whole sink/napkin thing, but when everything was all said and done, he was very happy to have dry little britches!!

Memorial Day Fun!
It was hamburgers and wiennies for all at the Haugh Household! Ben got to meet more of his extended family and he watched his crazy uncles run around and hit each other with women's lacrosse sticks. Uncle Matthew impressed us all with his tree climbing skills and Ben can't wait until he can climb trees too. If I learn to make clothing from old curtains, Ben will be just like one of the VonTraps!